Magnetic display for use by coaches and trainers of various sports

ABSTRACT

A display device ( 10 ) for diagramming a play includes a housing ( 12 ) having a handle ( 14 ) for lifting and carrying the housing. A bottom ( 16 ) and sides of the housing form a recess is filled with a layer ( 18 ) of magnetic particles and a display panel ( 20 ) on which an outline of a field of play, or a portion thereof, is drawn. The panel fits over the layer. A stylus ( 24 ) has a tip end ( 26 ) which, when brought into contact with, or in close proximity to, an outer surface of the panel attracts the magnetic particles to the underside of the form an image ( 28 - 32 ) visible to anyone looking at the panel. The user can create as many images as he needs to diagram a play for his team. When done, the user draws a slide ( 36 ) underneath the length of the panel to erase the display.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.60/789,416 filed Apr. 5, 2006 from which priority is claimed, and ishereby incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the diagramming of plays for a team by a coachor trainer; and, more particularly, to a magnetic display for quicklyand easily communicating a play to team members without the use ofpaper, pen, pencils, or markers.

Everyone who watches sports on television has seen it. At a crucialpoint in a basketball game, a football game, or other sporting event,the coach calls a “time out” and assembles the team about him on thesideline of the court or field. With the team gathered around, the coachor one of his assistants takes out a display board, such as clipboard ora dry-erase board, along with an appropriate writing instrument, such asa pen, pencil, or marker, and diagrams an offensive play for the team torun, or a defensive set in anticipation of the opposing team's play.

Typically, the display board includes a layout of at least a portion ofthe field of play (e.g. a basketball court, or one end of a football orsoccer field, etc.), and the coach marks the players' starting positionson the display board. Then, the coach diagrams instructions on thedisplay board for each player with the writing instrument by drawinglines that represent a players movement from a starting position to adesired ending position. Usually, the resulting display board exhibits amyriad of straight and/or curved lines with many of the linesintersecting one another. If the coach makes a mistake or decides todiagram an alternate play, he must erase the existing lines drawn on thedisplay board by rubbing with an eraser or other tool or tearing off aused sheet of paper so there is a clean display board for drawing. Thisprocess uses up valuable coaching time during “time-outs”, which are ofrelatively short duration. In addition, if the display is not cleanlyerased, any remaining lines denoting the previously delineated play canconfuse the players and result in the improper execution of the newlydiagrammed play or defense.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, the invention is a display device for use by coaches andothers to quickly and easily diagram plays for their team, and toquickly “erase” the diagrammed play so another play can be diagrammed.The device is self-contained and does not require paper, pencils, pens,or magic markers or the like for diagramming the plays.

The display comprises a lightweight, hand-held portable unit including adisplay panel or template on which is outlined the field of play, or aportion thereof, for a particular sport. Various fields of play, orportions of them, are outlined on the display panels of differentdevices so coaches for the respective sports will have a device readilyavailable to them for diagramming plays for their sport. The drawingsurface employs one of a plurality of magnetophoretic or magneticdisplay screens by which the user uses a stylus or the like to attractmagnetic particles to the underside of the display screen. This allowsillustration of player movement from an initial position through asequence of moves to execute a desired play. When diagramming iscomplete, the user moves a slide underneath the panel to de-magnetizethe particles and erase the display.

The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention aswell as embodiments thereof will become more apparent from the readingof the following description in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the display device of the presentinvention for diagramming plays, a portion of the device being shown insection, and including a stylus for writing on the surface of thedisplay; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the display device displaying one-halfof a basketball court;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the display device displaying a portionof a football field;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the display device displaying a portionof a soccer field;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a displaydevice;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bottom of the display device; and

FIG. 7 is a enlarged perspective view of a clip of the display device.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several figures of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way ofexample and not by way of limitation. The description clearly enablesone skilled in the art to make and use the invention, describes severalembodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses of theinvention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode ofcarrying out the invention. Additionally, it is to be understood thatthe invention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and the arrangements of components set forth in thefollowing description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention iscapable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried outin various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology andterminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should notbe regarded as limiting.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, an embodiment of the present invention, generallyreferred to as a display device 10, includes a generally rectangularcase or housing 12 preferably made of a molded, lightweight, high-impactplastic material, and non-magnetic material. A molded handle 14 extendsfrom one end of housing 12 for convenient lifting, holding and carryingof the display device 10. The housing 12 includes a generally flat lowermember 16 with side members 17 extending upwardly from the edges of thelower member 16. A display panel 20 extends between the side members 17to define a compartment within the housing 12. A layer of magneticparticles 18 reside within in the compartment 19 (FIG. 1).

The display panel 20 and magnetic particles 18 interact to form imageson the display panel 20, preferably using a type of magnetophoreticphenomena. For example, the magnetic particles 18 can comprise eithermicrocapsules of a magnetic material or a beehive cone of particles. Adisplay device 10 using such magnetophoric phenomena allows a user torepeatedly form images on the display panel 20, that can be readilyerased without leaving a residual image.

A template 21 on the display panel 20 represents a playing surface of asport or athletic activity. The template 21 can be applied to thedisplay panel 20 using any appropriate method, such as silk-screening,engraving, etching, printing, an adhesive label, or other suitablemethod. The template 20 can represent the playing surface of any sportor athletic activity, such as, baseball, soccer, basketball, football,tennis, volleyball, hockey, rugby, field hockey, lacrosse, cricket,dodgeball, or other sports. For example, the template 120 illustrated inFIG. 2 represents half of a basketball court having a basket B,backboard BB, free throw line FL, three-point arc TP, and a portion ofthe center circle CC at the half-court of the basketball court. Threedots 28 representing different players are shown on the display.

In FIG. 3, the template 220 represents a portion of a football fieldwith lines L extending completely across the field at five-yardintervals, together with hash marks H on either side of the field, andalong the side of the field (four marks in all) denoting each yard ofplay. Again, three dots 28 representing different players are shown onthe display.

In FIG. 4, the template 320 represents a soccer field with goals G ateach end of the field, corner kick areas CK at each corner of the field,a goalie box GB, a penalty kick area PK, a center line CL, and a centercircle CE.

A writing instrument, preferably a stylus 24, includes a magnetic tip 26for writing on the display panel 20. When not in use, the stylus 24 canbe stored within a cavity 27 of the housing 12. As a user brings the tip26 into contact with or in close proximity to the outer surface of thedisplay panel 20, the tip 26 attracts the magnetic particles 18 to theinner surface of the display panel 20 with a magnetic field so that theparticles 18 form an image (e.g., a dot 28) which is visible on theouter surface of the display panel 20. In this way, the user can movethe tip 26 of the stylus 24 about the display panel 20 to form a desiredimage. The user lifts the tip 26 from the display panel 20 to stopformation of the image. If the user then places the stylus against oradjacent another location on the display, he will create another dot,and can begin another image. For example, a desired image can include astraight line 30, curved line 32, dot 28, an arrow 34 to indicate adirection of movement, words, such as, “block” or “pass” to indicate aparticular activity, or any combination thereof.

The image on the display panel 20 can be erased with a slide member 36moveably mounted with a slot 37 of the housing 12 and positioned belowthe inner surface of the display panel 20. The slide member 36 producesa magnetic field opposite to that created by the tip 26 of stylus 24 andrepels the magnetic particles away from the inner surface of the displaypanel 20, thereby erasing the display panel 20. The display panel 20 isnow “clean” and the user can use the stylus 24 to create a new image.The slide member 36 erases the display without the need for any othercleaning materials, such as an eraser, or a spray bottle and rag.

The display device 10 is preferably made of plastic materials thatprovide both durability and can withstand exposure to elements that arepresent during both indoor and outdoor athletic activities.

Changes can be made in the above constructions without departing fromthe scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained inthe above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. For example,the template can be removeable and replaceable, such as an overlay.

In an alternate embodiment (FIGS. 5-7), the display device 10 does notinclude a handle 14, but rather includes a clip 40 protruding from thelower surface of the display device 10. The alternate embodiment alsoincludes feet 42, such as rubber or felt, that support the displaydevice 10 when placed on a supporting surface. The feet 42 reduceslipping of the device on the supporting surface. In addition, thestylus 24 is attached to the display device 10 with a tether 44, such asa cord, string, and the like.

1. A display device for diagramming a play for a player or team,comprising: a housing; a display panel attached to the housing anddefining a compartment within the housing, the display panel having atemplate representing a playing surface for an athletic activity; aplurality of magnetic particles within the compartment; and a writinginstrument that can engage the display panel to create an imagerepresenting a players position and movement during a play, the writinginstrument creating a magnetic field drawing the magnetic particles toan inner surface of the display panel where they are visible by theplayer.
 2. The display device of claim 1, the writing instrumentcomprising a stylus having a magnetic tip which, when brought intocontact with, or in close proximity to, an outer surface of the displaypanel attracts the magnetic particles to the inner surface of thedisplay panel to form an image visible to the player looking at thepanel.
 3. The display device of claim 1, further comprising a slidemember moveably attached to the housing and positioned adjacent theinner surface of the display panel so that the slide member moves alongthe inner surface of the display panel to remove the magnetic particlesfrom the display panel.
 4. The device of claim 1, further comprising ameans for erasing the display on the panel.
 5. The display device ofclaim 4, the erasing means comprising a slide member moveably attachedto the housing and positioned adjacent the inner surface of the displaypanel so that the slide member moves along the inner surface of thedisplay panel to remove the magnetic particles from the display panel.6. The display device of claim 1, in which a drawing surface provided bythe display panel employs magnetophoretic phenomena to produce thedisplay.
 7. The display device of claim 1, the housing comprising ahandle for lifting and carrying the device.
 8. The display device ofclaim 1, wherein the template is a playing surface selected from thegroup consisting of baseball diamond, soccer field, basketball court,football field, tennis count, volleyball court, hockey rink, rugbyfield, field hockey field, lacrosse field, cricket field, or dodgeballcourt.
 9. A display device for diagramming a play for a player or team,comprising: a housing; a display panel attached to the housing anddefining a compartment within the housing, the display panel having animage of at least a portion of a field of play; and, a plurality ofmagnetic particles within the compartment; a diagramming means by whicha user diagrams a play to be performed on the field of play includingindicating the starting position of at least one player on the field ofplay and his movements subsequent to the start of play on the field ofplay, the diagramming means creating a magnetic field drawing themagnetic particles to a surface of the display panel where they arevisible by the player, with the particles depicting the player and hismovements.
 10. The display device of claim 9, the diagramming meanscomprising a stylus having a tip which, when brought into contact with,or in close proximity to, an outer surface of the display panel attractsthe magnetic particles to the inner surface of the display panel to forman image visible to the player looking at the panel.
 11. The displaydevice of claim 9, further comprising means for erasing the display onthe panel.
 12. The display device of claim 11 in which the erasing meansincludes a slide member movable over the inner surface of the displaypanel to remove the magnetic particles from the display panel.
 13. Thedisplay device of claim 9 in which a drawing surface provided by thepanel employs magnetophoretic phenomena to produce the display.
 14. Thedisplay device of claim 9, the housing comprising a handle for liftingand carrying the device.
 15. The display device of claim 9 wherein theimage is a field of play selected from the group consisting of baseballdiamond, soccer field, basketball court, football field, tennis count,volleyball court, hockey rink, rugby field, field hockey field, lacrossefield, cricket field, or dodgeball court.
 16. A method of diagramming aplay for a player or team on a display device, comprising: providing ahousing; providing a display panel attached to the housing defining acompartment within the housing, the display panel having a templaterepresenting a playing surface for an athletic activity; providing aplurality of magnetic particles within the compartment; and providing awriting instrument; moving the tip of the writing instrument along thedisplay panel to create an image by drawing the magnetic particles to aninner surface of the display panel where they are visible by the playeror team; creating an image on the display panel with the writinginstrument that represents a player or a teams movement about theplaying surface during a play.
 17. The method of diagramming a play fora player or team on a display device of claim 1, further comprising:providing a slide member moveably attached to the housing and positionedadjacent the inner surface of the display panel; and moving the slidemember along the inner surface of the display panel to remove themagnetic particles from the display panel.
 18. The method of diagramminga play for a player or team on a display device of claim 1, wherein thetemplate is a playing surface selected from the group consisting ofbaseball diamond, soccer field, basketball court, football field, tenniscount, volleyball court, hockey rink, rugby field, field hockey field,lacrosse field, cricket field, or dodgeball court.
 19. The method ofdiagramming a play for a player or team on a display device of claim 1,in which a drawing surface provided by the display panel employsmagnetophoretic phenomena to produce the display